December 21, 1929.
My dear Miss Addams:
It was kind of you indeed to write me as you did, but if the situation is, as you say it is, I have no desire at all to meet any of the present Players -- the successors of the first group -- as I have never found it to much purpose to debate a [self-evident] truth with those whose queer emotions reconcile their disregard of it.
If one followed their line of reasoning, that you quote, the [theater] they give their plays in is not the same building that was erected in 1897 or 1898, because the style of its name has been changed, or, for example, should my daughter marry and take her husband's name -- which is still the custom -- she would cease to be my daughter.
Even so, I am not so sure that the name was Mrs. Pelham's suggestion after all. I can not be certain, because I have no records to show, but my recollection is that it was George M. R. Twose who invented the euphonious title of "Players." If so, give Twose credit for the name, although when I resigned I handed over to him a pretty well drilled company of young actors and actresses, with the jealousies of their individual club affiliations pretty well submerged, and with three seasons of increasingly successful experience back of them. These he continued to coach for at least one, and possibly two years before Mrs. Pelham made her appearance.
But after all, perhaps it is making too much of a mountain out of a mole hill, as I never cared enough about fame, even if justly deserved, to fight for it, although historical truth has always been one of my hobbies. However, the situation seems to me to present a very queer state of mind, and one, which I said before, does not seem to fit into the principles and ideals of Hull House -- at least, as I used to conceive them.
I would be very glad to come and see you, Miss Addams, at any time, for I have a high regard for you and have never ceased to recall with much pleasure the four years of my association with you, but it would be very distasteful to me to meet these young people to argue with them on my own behalf a perfectly self-evident truth. I would rather not. The matter can be dropped as far as I am concerned.
With kindest personal regards and best wishes for the Holidays,
Most sincerely yours,
Walter G. Pietsch [signed]
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